Response of sesame (sesamum indicum l.) to nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization.

Abstract

The response of sesame to varying rates of nitrogen (0, 50, 100 and 150 Kg N/ha) and phosphorus (0, 30, 60 and 90 Kg P/ha) was studied in two experiments, at the Siaya Farmer's Training Centre in Siaya District, during the short rains of 1991 and the long rains of 1993. Two local unimproved landraces, black-seeded and white-seeded grown by the majority of farmers in Kenya, were used in this study. Results showed that nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization did not significantly affect yield and yield components of sesame. It was concluded that the local land races of sesame were not responsive to application of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers under the conditions of the experiment.